Last Week Tonight - Long-Term Care

[zoaster_toaster]

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If you've recently heard about all the fuckery happening in long-term care facilities during COVID, John Oliver discusses how that fuckery has been happening for a long time and what can be done about it.

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OP Note: from a disability advocate perspective, this has been an longstanding issue in this community and I'm glad it's getting

Comments

[erika92]

insane how we lock away the elderly in dark dank care homes. but the opposite, taking care of a difficult grandparent at home, doesn't seem much better. i've heard about wealthy old folks families spending them down / locking away things in trusts so that they can spend their sad days out in horrible homes.

there has to be a better way...

[gillenvillain]

Both of my grandparents died at home (within 6 mo of each other from cancer). Only because I put my college and job on hold to move home and help my mother with both of them while she worked. She physically couldn't do the heavy lifting, medical stuff, etc.

The elderly facilities here had such bad reviews we didn't dare put them in one. I feel for anyone that does in-home care for a family member. It's hard work mentally, physically and emotionally. I was with both of them when they took their last breath and I'm so glad we had the ability to keep them home during those final months.

For those that cannot... it breaks my heart. This industry and healthcare in general sickens me so much. People shouldn't have to go through such shit just to get decent care at any stage of their life.

[makeitfly]

[epicdonald]

I know this episode mostly focused on the elderly but even for young people with disabilities this is a huge problem. It's insane the lengths our country in general goes to screw over people who just need medical care. Like ha we're gonna stick it to you for being born with a rare congenital disorder! In my state the Medicaid program may approve a kid for 24 hour care but then make it a nightmare to actually secure that care. And once someone turns 21 that approval immediately ends unless they meet very very specific requirements that many people who need round the clock skilled care don't meet.

It's morbid to think about but it's like the state is literally just telling them to go die at that point.

[gavinf1980]

I just watched this - some shocking facts.